Chapter Eight - Tiramisu

I wake with a start and grunt as I look around through half closed eyes. Roman glances at me in amusement when I groan as a set of bright headlights hit my still adjusting eyes. I close my eyes again and sit up but curse when my neck and shoulder screams in protest.

"You'd always go back to that uncomfortable position no matter how many times I tried to keep you from it." He chuckles huskily as I massage the sore area.

"Shouldn't have fallen asleep." I mutter before a yawn escapes me. "What time is – Rome! It's three in the morning! You need rest!"

I blanch when I realize he's been driving for four hours. He makes a noise of acknowledgement as he glances at the time and the tracker he's been following. The red dot marked as Mac's car suddenly disappears and he glances at me with an amused smile.

"Did you just jinx everything?"

"Pfft no!" I huff with a small smile of my own before it grows worried. "Why did it disappear?"

"It started glitching about twenty minutes ago so there's a delay in tracking time." He explains before telling me to find the nearest motel. I give him directions before he eventually pulls up outside the familiar looking building from the pictures provided online. "We'll wait until morning to see where they are."

I nod before hopping out of the car and stretching. Shivering from the chilly breeze that envelopes my body I hurry after Roman into the building and up to reception. I lean against the counter, half listening to what him and the lady are discussing as I scroll through social media on my phone. I reply to my family in our group chat as well as other friends before tuning back into the conversation.

"I'm sorry, we only have one room left."

"With two beds?" Roman asks with a quick glance in my direction.

"Nope." She shakes her head while tapping her pen incessantly. "Only one. Take it or leave it."

"No –" He replies just as I say, "We'll take it."

I smile before glaring right back at Roman who doesn't look quite happy with the idea of us sharing a bed. "It's three in the morning and we're both exhausted. We're not looking anywhere else and if you have a problem with our arrangement you can sleep on the floor for all I care!"

The woman smirks as he rolls his eyes before handing his card over and pushing mine back towards me. I'm too tired to argue further with him at this point so I put my card back in my purse and grab the keys from the woman with a smile. Making my way upstairs with him following me I find room two-one-two before entering.

Thankfully everything looks clean and I freshen up in the bathroom before making my way out to Roman sitting on the bed and typing away on his phone. I quickly realize a problem. The clothes I'm wearing aren't comfortable enough to sleep in, especially my skinny jeans. With a frown I glance up to find Roman already staring and smile sheepishly.

"My jumper should be long enough to fit you." He mumbles sleepily before yawning.

"Thank you." I smile while mentally cooing at how adorable he looks. "I'm going to take a shower unless you want to head to bed early and want one first?"

"Too tired. I'll take one tomorrow morning." He shakes his head before taking off his jacket.

I nod before entering the bathroom and stripping. As I turn the shower on Roman knocks on the door and holds out his jumper for me to take. I grab it with a loud thanks before locking the door and stepping under the warm spray. The ache in my neck and shoulder starts to dissipate the more I stay under it. Shampooing my hair and cleaning my body with soap I eventually get out of the shower and dry myself off.

My eyes are literally closing by this point which is baffling since I slept for two hours already in the car. I leave my underwear on and get dressed in Roman's dark green jumper which is the softest material I've ever felt. His addictive scent wraps around me like a warm hug and I smile before exiting the bathroom. The room is dark with only the warm glow from the lamps acting as a source of light to guide me to my side of the bed.

His clothes are on a nearby chair and from what I can make out as I slip under the covers is that he's only wearing a short-sleeved t-shirt and boxers. He mumbles something before sighing contently and rubbing his cheek against the pillow. I smile softly at the action before settling on my side and closing my eyes.

"You smell good." They snap open when I hear him murmur quietly.

Chuckling at the fact that he's too tired to even open his eyes I grin before replying. "Why, thank you. It's Hudson Motel's finest."

He chuckles huskily and I feel delight course through my veins. I take the time to admire him while he's not looking. Roman truly looks like God took His time when creating him. A perfect mix of handsome and rugged. I really should look away before I get caught, I think to myself.

"Goodnight Elena." He mumbles as he shifts slightly.

"Night Romi."

"When will you stop calling me that?" He groans and I watch his features twist into a frown.

"Never." I close my eyes and fall asleep with a smile.

"Elena." I groan when someone shakes me. "Elena, get up."

"What time is it?" I mutter grumpily while cuddling a pillow closer to me.

"Nine in the morning."

"Give me two more hours and I swear I'll be up." I sigh before turning sides.

A pillow is thrown at my head and I grumble angrily as I chuck it behind me. "D.S. left me a note last night."

"What does it say?" I ask as I finally open my eyes and sit up in bed.

He takes a seat beside me and opens the note. "Roman Jackson. Your little tiramisu –"

"Cringe." I mutter before feeling him pull away to stare at me with an unimpressed look. "What?! Who makes threats based on ethnicity?!"

He rolls his eyes before continuing. "...won't be around much longer to give you company if you continue this search to hunt me down. Leave me the fuck alone or else I'll murder you all just like those girls...starting with your very own girlfriend."

"Wow." I mutter as I cover my mouth to stifle a yawn. "At least he thinks we'd make a cute couple."

Roman completely ignores me as he frowns at the paper. "Elena...this means he did a background check on you or something. How else would he know you're Italian?"

"Clever." I remark with a hum to which he shakes his head with a loud scoff of disbelief. "What?! Credit should be given where credit is due!"

His emerald eyes meet mine and I quickly lose myself in them. His brows are furrowed in worry and it's like he's searching the depths of my soul, pulling back all the layers that make me who I am. I can smell the citrus of the soap lingering on him and his wet, curly strands make me want to run my fingers through them.

"You're not freaked out in the slightest?"

"Of course, I am. But this also means that he's shitting it knowing that we're getting closer." I shrug before hopping out of bed to go freshen up.

Turning I catch his eyes roaming over my bare legs and brewing with something unknown before they snap back down to the note again. I bite my lip to stifle a grin before hurrying into the bathroom with my clothes from yesterday. I brush my teeth and splash my face with cold water to wake me up quicker before getting dressed. My hair is slightly damp from my shower last night so I use the hair dryer before throwing it up into a high ponytail.

"So, where to next?" I ask as I step out of the bathroom and gather my things.

"They're on the outskirts of Louisiana so hopefully they haven't strayed too far." He mutters as we leave the room.

"There's nobody after us though. All we received is a note while the others are being chased and led away." I frown in confusion as we wave to the old woman before leaving the motel.

"He probably wants to get rid of them first and then scare us." Roman shrugs carelessly.

"How lovely." I mutter sarcastically as we make our way around the building. "How long will it take to reach the outskirts?"

"Well...they've just crossed into Mississippi." He frowns down at his phone.

"Please don't tell me –"

"Yep. It's going to take another few hours." He chuckles in amusement when I groan dramatically.

"Hey, can I drive?" I perk up with a bright smile that quickly turns into a scowl when he shakes his head. "Oh, come on Roman! What am I supposed to do for another few hours?"

"You don't even have insurance. Are you crazy?" He deadpans before nodding at me to get in.

"But I have a license and besides who's going to catch me?" I huff with a roll of my eyes. He stares at me long and hard before I get it. "Oh..."

"Get in, stupid." He smirks mischievously.

"You'll be pulling your hair out by the end of the drive and that's a promise!" I huff and hop in before putting the seat belt on.

"Trust me, you make me want to do that every second of every day." He mutters as he gets in and starts the car.

I make a noise of indignation and swat his arm hard. He snickers quietly before reversing out onto the main road. We drive off following the red dot on the screen with Hudson Motel shrinking in the rear-view mirror. I pray I don't fall asleep and so, I come up with an idea that will hopefully keep me occupied for a solid twenty minutes at least before I get bored again.

"I spy –"

"Fuck no." Roman grunts with an adamant shake of his head.

"I spy..." I enunciate the words with a sharp glare in his direction. "With my little eye...something beginning with...S!"

"Signs for the road."

My jaw drops before I frown deeply. "What the fuck?!"

"My turn." He grins cheekily before looking for something.

I shake my head with a small smile as I wait for him to say a letter. Maybe this trip won't be so boring after all.

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- R.W. ♡